Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-11

of the rumor that Great Britain will short
ly send fleet OF war ships TO aid the mari
time provinces, our own defenseless har-
bors, and the fact that Canada and
Great Britain are in possession of charts
OF our harbors, the resident he requested
rs commander-in' chief of the army and
navy, TO inform the house what steps, in
his Judgment, are necessary To meet this
emergency.
While there Is little immediate prospect
OF war with England over the fishery ques-
ton army officers located in Washington
with little else to do are discussing our
offensive and defensive condition as il
there were. IL is generally agreed among
experts that cities on the Canadian Dor
der-such as Detroit, for instance-would
be the first to feel the supremacy Of Eng
lands navy. England has Ill light gun
boats. The feet has for some time past
been lowering In the vicinity of Bermuda.
Since the commencement of the fisheries
imbroglio six light British gunboats have
been ordered to New Brunswick. The en-
tire fleet OF III gunboats could navigate
the st. Lawrence as far as Kingston. The
canals built around the rapids in the ST.
Lawrence would enable the feet 10 reach
the lakes. All that the United States have
TO oppose them is the decrepit old gunboat
Michigan. These facts are having their
effect on Michigan members OF congress.
They are pretty generally in favor OF the
United States government building up "A
suitable navy with the least possible delay.
Whether these ''rumors of war" are we'll
founded or not, they evidently have some
effect for since they became rife the naval
sub committee on construction has reached
an agreement whica will doubtless receive
the approval of the full committee looking
TO an appropriation for the construction
OF two 400 ton cruisers OF the Newark
type; five |, 200 ton gun boats patterned
after gun boat No. !, and three sea-going
torpedo boats. There Is an intention on
the part of several members OF the com
mittee when the construction bill is
reached in the house to move an increase
OF the appropriation so as TO provide Tor
the construction of at least three vessels
in addition TO those already described.
The supreme court has Just rend cred q
decision in "a case of interest to every
clerk OF the United States court in that IL
involves his right 20 retain office fees.
The case comes up under an appeal from
the circuit court OF Massachusetts. The
original action was brought bv the United
States against G. III. Hill clerk OF the
United States district court. who had col
lected certain fees for naturalization
papers. The United States sued 20 recov-
er these fees. The court held that they
belong 20 the clerk and the United States
supreme court affirmed the decision.
The legislative, executive and judicis'
appropriation bill, reported 10y the appro-
priation committee 10 the house makes
total appropriation OF S2o2s6,9lO, which is
less than the appropriation for the current
year 10y SilS5i5. Estimates aggregated
S2l. Ia, 600 Among the legislative features
contained in the bill is proviso that no
part of the money appropriated for the
civil service commission is TO be ed until
the commission repeals the rule forhidding
the appointment OF applicants over the
age of - years BY the provisions OF the
same hill. the salary of the governor OF
Alaska and judge o; the territory are re-
duced from $1,000 each 10 $500 and 81, 800
respectively. and the appropriation for
travelling expenses Of the civil service COM
mission is cut from $1,000 TO 5000.
Some time ago resolution was adopted
in the senate calling for information re-
garding the Apache captives at Fort
Marion. Florida The secretary Of the in
terror has submitted a report, showing
that all OF the youth among those Indians
between the age OF - and - years num-
boring forty four have been transferred
70 and placed under educational and in
dustrial training at Carlisle, Pa, and that
upon recommendation OF the officers OF
the army in charge of the confined Indians
provision has been made for the education
of sixty of the younger children 10y the
sisters OF charity AT st Augustine, Fla.
The reply j. accompanied by communica-
tion from DR.. G. b. Agnew Of Florida. ask
ing that the department erect school
buildings for the education of all Apaches
and Offering in the name Of the August
inc Aid Society TO procure teachers for
the school free OF cost The reply OF the
department 20 these communications is
also submitted and shows grave doubts As
TO the advisahilitv Of pursuing this course.
and that the department had no authority
TO spend money for the buildings desired.
President Cleveland has signed the inter
state commerce bill. His action is in full
accord with the views OF Attorney Gen
eral Garland. and there l. perfect harmony
between the President and his cabinet on
the subject. The attorney general is said
to hold that the present bill does not con
fer Judicial power on the commission but
puts them In the courts on report from the
commission. and that 10 does not confer
legislative power except i'm the fourth
section ithe long and short haul clause,
and that this Is warranted by numberless
precedents in the legislative history of the
government.
The senate has passed the bill TO credit
and pay To the several states and terrific
ries and the District OF Columbia all mon
eys collected under the direct tax levied
under the act Of August ,. 1851. The bill
passed with but one dissenting vote Van
Wyck of Nebraska voting in the negative.
An amendment in the nature of sub
stitute 10 the railroad attorneys bill, was
passed. The amendment makes il unlaw-
full for "A member OF congress to accept en-
ployment as an attorney in opposition TO
the United State, in any case To which The
United States may be party. or from any
subsidized railroad company. il such
member have cause 10 believe that meas
ures specially efiecting the interests Of
such railroad are pending before congress
or are about to be so pending during his
term of office.
The president has signed the bill for
amending the bill relating to the muster
and pay OF certain officers and enlisted
men in the volunteer service. The bill
provides that where an officer served in
a higher grade from that To which he was
commissioned. and was subsequently COM
misSioned to that higher grade, he should
be mustered and paid from the date from
which be was TO take rank by the terms OF
his commission. whether that commission
was actually issued TO him at that time or
not. At least 10 officers TO every regiment
engaged on the union side during the war
will come under the terms OF the bill,
The electoral count hill recently passed
is now "A law, the president having signed
the bill.
EuUlfch